AAOIFI is an international autonomous organization established in 1991 responsible for development and issuance of accounting, auditing, ethics, governance, and Shariah standards for the international Islamic finance industry. Its 200 institutional members include central banks, regulatory authorities, financial institutions, accounting and auditing firms from over 40 countries.

AAOIFI has issued over 88 standards followed by leading Islamic financial institutions across the world including Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America; and adopted by the IDB. Supporting the adoption and technical application of the standards, AAOIFI has introduced Certified Islamic Professional Accountant (CIPA) and Certified Shariah Adviser and Auditor (CSAA) professional qualification programs. A contract certification program was introduced to certify that financial contracts between Islamic financial institutions and their clients comply with AAOIFI standards and Shariah principles.

Apart from its effort in promoting clarity and transparency in financial reporting and also harmonization of international Islamic finance practices, AAOIFI has also been involved in developing the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial system in a number of jurisdictions together with multilateral organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank.

IIFM is the Islamic Financial Services Industry’s standard setting organization focused on the Islamic Capital & Money Market (ICMM) segment of the industry. Its primary focus lies in the standardization of Islamic financial products, documentation and related processes at the global level. IIFM also organizes specialized industry seminars, workshops and consultative meetings for the development of the ICMM.

IIFM was founded as a neutral and non-profit organization with the collective efforts of the Central Bank of Bahrain, Islamic Development Bank, Autoriti Monetari (i.e. Monetary Authority) Brunei Darussalam, Bank Indonesia, Central Bank of Sudan and Bank Negara Malaysia (delegated to Labuan Financial Services Authority).

Besides the founding members, IIFM is supported by other jurisdictional members such as State Bank of Pakistan, Dubai International Financial Centre as well as a number of regional and international financial institutions and other market participants.

CIMB Islamic is CIMB Group’s global Islamic banking and finance franchise, anchored by CIMB Islamic Bank, a licensed bank under Malaysia’s Islamic Banking Act 1983.

CIMB Islamic provides innovative and comprehensive Shariah compliant financial solutions in investment banking, consumer banking, asset management, Takaful, private banking and wealth management. CIMB Islamic products and operations are managed in strict compliance with Shariah principles under the guidance of the CIMB Islamic Shariah Committee, comprising some of the world's leading Islamic scholars.

CIMB Islamic is recognized as a pioneer in Islamic financial markets, having advised on the world’s first Shariah compliant exchangeable Sukuk and the largest sovereign Sukuk issue to date.

CIMB Group’s Islamic banking business is supported by the group’s network of over 40,000 staff in 17 countries comprising an experienced senior management team and an experienced global team of Islamic banking and financial services professionals in all core components of the Islamic banking and financial services market. CIMB Group also has the most extensive retail branch network in ASEAN, with more than 1,000 branches as at the 30^th June 2013, serving approximately 13 million customers regionally.

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 30 years experience advising clients globally on Islamic finance. Consistently ranked among the best in the world by Chambers Global and The Legal 500, the firm’s Global Islamic finance and investment practice includes nearly 30 lawyers and professionals in offices across Europe, the United States and the Middle East.

In Europe, the firm is recognized as a leader in structuring and advising on Shariah compliant real estate financing and investments as well as advising various international investment banks in their capacities as arrangers in debt capital market transactions, particularly Sukuk issuances. In the US, the firm is widely-acknowledged as the firm of choice for Shariah compliant investment and financing transactions. In the Middle East, the firm leads in the formation of investment funds across a range of asset sectors and the innovative fund structures it has developed to deal with local ownership and financing restrictions that are now precedents followed by the industry. The firm maintains a leading role in handling debt capital markets work, in particular Sukuk issuances for issuers and lead arrangers across the Middle East.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral financial institution. It is the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB). It was established by the IDB Board of Governors in its 24th annual meeting held in Rajab 1420H (November 1999) in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The authorized capital stock of the Corporation is US$2 billion while the capital available for subscription is US$1 billion. Its shareholders are the IDB, 52 Islamic member countries, and five public financial institutions from member countries.

The mandate of ICD is to play a complementary role to the IDB’s activities and national financing institutions in member countries through the provision of financing and financial services to private sector projects in accordance with principles of the Shariah. ICD also provides consultancy services to governments and private sector institutions in order to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private sector enterprises, the development of capital markets, the adoption of best management practices and enhancement of its role in the market economy.

The ICD focuses on financing developmental projects which contribute to the creation of employment opportunities and the encouragement of exports. To achieve these objectives, ICD creates and develops relations of cooperation and partnership to arrange co-financing and syndicated financing services.

INCEIF, The Global University of Islamic Finance, was set up by Bank Negara Malaysia (the central bank of Malaysia) to offer postgraduates studies in Islamic finance. INCEIF is one of many initiatives undertaken by Malaysia to develop and nurture talent and experts for the global Islamic finance industry. Apart from its academic programs, which comprise Chartered Islamic Finance Professional, Masters in Islamic Finance and PhD in Islamic Finance; INCEIF also offers customised executive training programs and industry-focused applied research. The chairman and chancellor of INCEIF is the governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. To date, its students and graduates come from different faiths and background from over 80 countries.

Khalij Islamic is an Islamic finance investment and advisory boutique with a presence in the UK and the UAE. The firm offers strategic consulting, and specialized expertise for developing, structuring, sourcing and placing bespoke Shariah compliant financial products focusing on ‘true asset’ investment products as well as Islamic liquidity and risk management solutions; bringing new asset classes and high quality Islamic investment products to Islamic investors.

Khalij Islamic, adds value by providing a broad range of professional and reliable world class end-to-end Shariah services by harnessing the skills and collective intellectual capabilities of a seasoned management team that boasts over 100 years of collective investment banking and consulting experience together with the connectivity with highly respected world-renowned Shariah scholars; and affiliation and collaboration with influential industry bodies in the Islamic finance space.

The Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance (BIBF) has an important role in supporting the financial sector of Bahrain. BIBF does this by providing the highest quality of assessment, business education, training and development in the region and ensuring it delivers internationally-accredited courses and programs.

Since 1981, BIBF has grown to over 19,000 participants largely within the financial services industry. BIBF delivers training and development solutions across all major business disciplines including Islamic finance.

BIBF offers well over 300 morning courses, tailored offerings based on organizational needs, specialized programs taught by external market specialists, and professional qualifications and degree programs in partnership with leading international organizations.

Bank of London and The Middle East (BLME) is an independent UK, wholesale Shariah compliant bank based in London. BLME received the Financial Services Authoritys authorization in July 2007 and is the largest Islamic bank in Europe. It is led by a management team that brings together a combination of experienced international bankers and leading experts in Islamic finance.

The core divisions that make up BLMEs competitive offering are corporate banking, treasury and wealth management comprising of private banking and asset management. BLME is the largest Shariah compliant bank in Europe and we also have a dedicated Shariah supervisory board (SSB). The SSB ensures that our policies and practices, as well as our corporate governance, are in accordance with Shariah principles. These principles require that our service is based upon achieving sustainable performance from tangible assets.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Central London, with presence in the Middle East, DDCAP is majority owned and controlled by IPGL, the most significant shareholder in ICAP. DDCAP positions itself as an intermediary in the Islamic financial services Industry, providing structuring support, trade execution and value-added services to its global clients.

DDCAP holds a unique market position as facilitator across a diverse range of Shariah compliant products, asset classes and instruments in both the primary and secondary markets.

DDCAP is a member of the International Islamic Financial Market. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include DD&Co and DDGI.

Eiger Trading Advisors is an investment management and advisory firm specializing in commodities markets. Based in London, the company has a wealth of knowledge and experience and generates value through its network of relationships within physical commodities markets.

Our dedicated team provides Islamic financial institutions with custom bespoke products in a range of commodities, including:

• Liquidity management/Asset facilitation via our proprietary electronic trading platform
• Shariah compliant commodity indices
• Structured products
• Commodity trade finance and risk mitigation
• Shariah compliant trade finance funds (advisory and under management)

Our proprietary web-based trading platform is currently being used or tested by over 130 institutions across Europe, the GCC and Asia. The platform automates the structuring and execution of Islamic treasury and capital markets products for wholesale and retail commodity-backed transactions and is one of the most advanced and efficient delivery mechanisms available.

Emirates NBD Group

Emirates NBD is a leading banking group in the Middle East with assets of AED308.3 billion ($84 billion) (as of the 31^st December 2012). The group has a leading retail banking franchise in the UAE, with over 163 branches and over 760 ATMs. It is a major player in the UAE corporate banking arena with strong Islamic banking, global markets & treasury, investment banking, private banking, asset management and brokerage operations. The group has operations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, the UK, Jersey (Channel Islands) and representative offices in India, China and Iran.

Emirates NBD Capital

Emirates NBD Capital (EmCap) is the investment banking subsidiary of the Emirates NBD Group, licensed to operate in the Dubai International Financial Center. EmCap comprises an experienced team of professionals combining an international perspective with in-depth regional knowledge spanning DCM (including Shariah compliant structuring), syndicated/club loans, financial advisory, ECM and project finance.

Finance Accreditation Agency (FAA) is an international and independent quality assurance and accreditation body supported by the central bank of Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia. FAA is responsible for ensuring high quality assurance and accreditation practices in accordance with global standards and practice, and providing collaborations for mutual and international recognition in quality learning by leveraging on the expertise and experience of industry practitioners to provide assessments, reviews and recommendations towards enhancing the quality of training and learning programs. Through these initiatives, the agency aims to contribute towards promoting the highest standards in the industry’s developments of human capital.

For more details, please visit www.faa.org.my

GFI Group Inc provides brokerage services, market data, trading platform and analytics software products to worldwide institutional clients.

From its offices in Dubai, opened in 2008, GFI acts as a leading intermediary in the Middle Eastern, European and Far Eastern markets. GFI’s experienced team in this region provides wholesale brokerage services in Islamic finance alongside conventional fixed income, foreign exchange and equities products.

GFI’s highly knowledgeable industry sector voice broking staff is supported by its electronic trading platforms, including CreditMatch®, ForexMatch® and EnergyMatch® Europe, to provide enhanced liquidity and efficiency. These esteemed hybrid trading platforms allow GFI brokers to provide clients with in-depth market information and efficient trade execution, without compromising anonymity and confidentiality.

Headquartered in New York, GFI was founded in 1987 and employs more than 2,200 people around the world. The company provides services and products to over 2,600 institutional clients, including leading investment and commercial banks, corporations, insurance companies and hedge funds.

IdealRatings was incorporated in 2006 in San Francisco with a mission to help Shariah compliant and ethical investors identify instruments across different asset classes in more than 160 markets. IdealRatings is serving clients in over 20 countries with a range of capital market solutions including:

• Equities � A web-based platform covering over 40,000 stocks, where financial institutions can screen based on different Shariah guidelines along with unique purification calculation engine for individual stocks;
• REITs � Global coverage of all listed REITs that could be screened in accordance with different standard Shariah/ethical guidelines;
• Indexes � A partnership with Russell Indexes and Thomson Reuters in developing a series of Islamic indexes along with providing custom-built indexes;
• Sukuk � A pioneering Sukuk screening service that enables institutions to define their own customized Sukuk selection Shariah parameters; and
• Data-Feed � A comprehensive solution for brokerage houses to offer Shariah flag as well as purification values to retail users.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world’s pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Established in 2004, Ridge Solutions us a wholly- owned Angolan company which develops diverse projects across several market sectors under its various operating units. The company’s initial successes came in leading several high profile real estate developments in Angola. The diverse and talented management team at Ridge Solutions has extensive international experience in property development, finance, engineering and other pertinent skill sets. Due to the consistency high economic growth rates in the Angolan economy, Ridge Solutions has recently expanded its activities into other sectors.

Ridge Solutions is in the process of developing its global business network through strategic partnerships and joint ventures with well-recognized international companies involved in specific economic sectors. To enhance the ability of the Group to work with both domestic and international investors, the Group created RS capital which 2008 became on the third financial institution in the country to receive approval of the Ministry of Finance’s Comissão do MercadoCapitais (CMC).

In 2008, the Group has opened an investment holding company and a contracting company in the United Arab Emirates and Ridge Solutions International Holdings.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world’s pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Recognized for our industry focus, we are strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Wherever we are, we operate in accordance with our global business principles of quality, unity and integrity. We aim to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of our offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Russell’s index business began in 1984 as a way to measure US market segments and better track investment manager behavior for its investment management and consulting businesses. The resulting index methodology produced the broad-market Russell 3000® Index and introduced the first small cap benchmark�the Russell 2000® Index.

Russell Indexes calculates approximately 700,000 benchmarks daily, covering 98% of the investable market globally, 83 countries and more than 10,000 securities. Approximately US$3.9 trillion in assets is benchmarked to the Russell Indexes.

The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) was established by Ministerial decree in 1979, and registered under the Central Bank of Bahrain in 2010. BAB brings together banking institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain and works towards enhancing Bahrain’s image as the financial hub of the Middle East.

Providing the full range of financial services, Bahrain banks represent US$ 209.5 billion in total assets and employ over 14 thousand while contributing 26% towards Bahrain’s $21.9 billion GDP.

Speaking for almost 100 members, BAB provides an open forum where banks can come together to discuss and solve problems. BAB is also actively engaged in promoting banking conferences, exhibitions and seminars that bring overseas banking delegations to Bahrain.

In 2009 and 2010, BAB launched The Bahrain Banker (a quarterly publication) and The Handbook of Islamic Banking & Finance respectively, establishing itself as the voice of Bahraini banking with an intentional readership.

Clearstream: We value partnership

Clearstream is a successful securities services supplier that provides customers in more than 100 countries with access to 53 domestic markets, the international securities and Sukuk market, and the carbon emissions rights market.

Our award-winning product portfolio includes the issuance, settlement and custody of securities and Sukuk, Vestima, a platform offering innovative investment funds services, plus the Global Liquidity Hub which delivers a unique and sophisticated collateral management service suite.

Clearstream’s global reach covers all major asset classes and enables settlement across borders, time zones and currencies. We are engaged in a number of Islamic finance projects that will capitalise on our international capital markets expertise to improve market standardisation, develop Sharia-compliant collateral management capabilities and deliver tailormade custody and settlement infrastructure solutions for the Islamic finance industry

We have offices in Luxembourg, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, New York, Prague, Singapore and Tokyo and are ready to help you.

Islamic Finance news is the industry's leading, capital markets focused, e-newsletter bringing you unrivalled editorial coverage every week on the global Islamic financial market. This weekly newsletter provides insightful and intelligent editorial coverage from around the world helping you keep ahead. In addition to a comprehensive weekly review of all the stories from around the globe, interviews, forums, market statistics and data, key industry practitioners contribute via non-biased, educational and up-to-date country and sector reports, giving you a firsthand knowledge and understanding of the Islamic finance markets and instruments from an experts' point of view.

For a trial subscription, please contact +603 2162 7804 or email [email protected]

Frequently referred to as “the Financial Times of Saudi Arabia”, this publication keeps a keen eye on consumer affairs as well as financial trends within the region and abroad, offering readers informed opinions of the same. Al Eqtisadiah is the key to reaching financially savvy individuals with billions in assets and investments around the globe. Al Eqtisadiah follows developments throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in both the urban centers and also in village and remote communities, pinpointing social and economic trends and uncovering important issues that affect both individual communities and the nation’s economy as a whole. Whilst international economic and financial news is closely monitored, daily in-depth articles combined with analysis on the Saudi economy provide readers with valuable insights. Al Eqtisadiah’s regular readers include net worth individuals covering a broad spectrum of incomes, including a large proportion of educated Saudi women and female students, who consider financial affairs an important part of their knowledge base.

Launched on April, 1975 in Jeddah, Arab News is the first publication of the Saudi Research & Publishing Group. Arab News is a leading English language newspaper both in the Kingdom and the GCC. The newspaper is of diversified content, covering politics, social issues, economic and business news, as well as sports and entertainment. The paper targets English speaking individuals in the GCC and the Arab world.

Balkans.com Business News is a prominent and recognized voice for business globally. As a Balkans business resource, we provide up-to-date daily news and weekly reviews, market research, financial reports, company news linking and database of companies who do business in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, FYR Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. In addition, our notable industry news section provides detailed information on business happenings for over 30 specific industries. Our readers are high-level executives, business leaders, educational institutions, investors, business owners and government institutions throughout the world.

The business-only website in English, Serbian and Greek keeps our readers up-to-date with its comprehensive coverage of the region, in-depth analysis of industries and business opportunities, interviews with business leaders, special reports and a searchable database.

Launched in November 2006, Business Islamica is the first monthly magazine of its kind in the UAE, specifically covering all aspects of Islamic business and finance, both regionally and internationally. The magazine’s objective is to spearhead awareness initiatives, heighten knowledge of its core principles and practices, as well as feature the latest developments in this industry. Our editorial covers interviews with key industry leaders, case studies, and includes features on a wide range of topics such as Islamic Banking, Wealth Management, Takaful (Islamic Insurance), Islamic Retail Finance, Marketing and Branding of Shari’ah-Compliant products, Regulatory Issues, Islamic Business Challenges and Risk Management.

Capital Business Magazine is a B2B English monthly publication focusing on best business practices accredited by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). It enjoys a sizable footprint in the Middle East on the strength of feature articles contributed by certified financial and business experts, as well as coverage of a broad spectrum of topics including banking, IT, oil & gas, real estate and construction, human capital, risk management, corporate finance and cash management, corporate governance, investments, IPOs, tools of trade and more.

Thanks to you, CAPITAL Business magazine is ranked number 1 in the latest findings by Ipsos-Stat- NMA UAE 2011 in reference to English Business Publications.

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

OBG offers a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, energy, infrastructure, industry and insurance.

The group’s acclaimed economic and business reports are the leading source of local and regional intelligence, while its online economic briefings provide an up-to-date in-depth analysis. OBG’s consultancy arm offers tailor-made market intelligence and advice to firms operating in these markets and those looking to enter them.

Wiley is a global provider of content-enabled solutions that improve outcomes in research, education, and professional practice. Wiley’s Professional Development business creates products and services that help customers become more effective in the workplace and achieve career success. It brings to life the ideas and best practices of thought leaders in business, finance, accounting, workplace learning, management, leadership, technology, behavioral health, engineering/architecture, and education to serve these communities worldwide